On Saturday, April 1, 2023, all licensed firearm retailers and pawnbrokers will be required to use the revised ATF Form 4473 to complete firearm transactions. 

Announced in December 2022, the new ‘Firearms Transaction Record’ form was updated to reflect statutory requirements set forth in the NICS Denial Notification Act, Bipartisan Safer Community Act, and ATF Final Rule 2021R-05F regarding frames/receivers.

Revised Form 4473 Changes

Notable changes to the revised ATF Form 4473 include:

• Privately Made Firearms (PMFs) must now be recorded (Section A, 1)
• Addition of ‘Reside in City Limits’ to transferee/buyer address (Section A, 10)
• Two additional prohibited persons questions (Section B, 21.b and 21.c) relating to straw purchases and illegal firearms trafficking
• Addition of address, county and ZIP code where gun show takes place (Section C, 25)
• Additional instructions and response blocks regarding Enhanced Background Checks for transferees/buyers under 21 (Section C, 27.c and 27.d)

A complete list of changes can be found here.

How to Get Revised Forms 4473

The revised ATF Form 4473 can be downloaded and printed for immediate use from ATF’s website. Hard copies of the Revised Form may also be ordered from the ATF Distribution Center by contacting (703) 870-7526/(703) 870-7528 or ordering online. Check ‘Forms and Applications,’ then select Form 4473 and enter your desired quantity.

Please note, the entire Form 4473, including instructions, must be downloaded, printed, and stored together to comply with ATF regulation.

Electronic ATF Forms 4473

FFLs using electronic A&D Bound Book and/or Form 4473 solutions are also required to use the revised firearm transaction form beginning April 1, 2023.

In March, Orchid updated its own e4473 software to reflect changes of the revised ATF Form 4473. The revised Form is now in use by all Orchid eBound™ and POS retail customers. To get started with Orchid eBound/e4473 or learn more about Orchid’s compliance services, visit orchidadvisors.com/retailsolutions.